Clonmel is Ten Times Better Ten Times Better gained a deserved bumper win at Clonmel earlier this month, and returned to Powerstown Park to make a winning start over hurdles in the Cahir Mares Maiden Hurdle. Katie Walsh was on board the Beneficial mare last time, and trainer Pat Fahy this time relied on her brother Ruby in this two and a half miles event. The solid 7/4 favourite headed chief market rival Blazing West (9/4, from 6/1 early this morning) before the penultimate flight and soon asserted. Walsh's mount was in command at the final hurdle, and stayed on strongly to score by all of 14 lengths. Princess Lir was a further three and three quarter lengths back in third. Fahy said, "She was so well schooled coming here but you'd still be worried having never run in a schooling hurdle. Connor (Fahy, son) said she was the best leaper we've had for a long time though. "You can see how tiny she is and she surprised me the way she pulled away today. I was going to run at Galway (last weekend) and then on to Down Royal (for the Grade 3 mares' hurdle) but I think we're better off where we are. "Her brother Stack The Deck was some machine and when I told George (Moore, owner), he said I don't care but the mare is ten times better!" (TW & AM)
